North Hertfordshire

North Hertfordshire's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in.

The population reached nearly 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of North Hertfordshire increased by 8.7%, from almost 117,000 to 127,000.

The addition of about 10,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, North Hertfordshire was home to, on average, 2.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older North Hertfordshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of North Hertfordshire increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 16% of people in North Hertfordshire are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and North Hertfordshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in North Hertfordshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in North Hertfordshire decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in North Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of North Hertfordshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.7% to 3.9% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of North Hertfordshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in North Hertfordshire decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Housing in North Hertfordshire

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in North Hertfordshire, but at a slower rate than in nearby Luton.

In North Hertfordshire, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 68% in 2001 to 66% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Luton decreased from 70% to 60%.

Across Eastof England, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 72% to 68%.

Private renting in North Hertfordshire increased from 8.0% to 13%, while the rate of social housing decreased from 22% to 19%.

The rate of home ownership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of North Hertfordshire residents that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 3.4% between the last two censuses.

The proportion who said they were employed remained close to 58%, while the percentage of North Hertfordshire residents that were self-employed increased from 9.6% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in North Hertfordshire increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in North Hertfordshire, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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